Odisha Congress Launches ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ Campaign to Safeguard Constitutional Values

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Congress on Friday announced the launch of a month-long statewide campaign titled ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ (Save the Constitution), aimed at promoting social, political, and economic justice. The initiative will run from April 28 to May 30, featuring a series of rallies and outreach programs across the state.

Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, Odisha Congress in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu unveiled the campaign schedule. A state-level rally will mark the beginning of the movement in the capital on April 28, followed by district-level rallies between May 3 and 10. From May 11 to 17, the campaign will focus on assembly constituency-level programs, concluding with an intensive door-to-door outreach drive from May 20 to 30.

Lallu accused the BJP-led central government of systematically weakening the Constitution and diverting public attention by allegedly targeting Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi through what he termed as a “fabricated” National Herald case. He reiterated Rahul Gandhi’s demand for a nationwide caste census, asserting that such a measure is crucial to ensuring justice for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Highlighting systemic disparities in Odisha, Lallu pointed out that although OBCs constitute 54% of the state’s population, they receive only 11.25% reservation in government jobs and none in education. He also criticized Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, an OBC leader from Odisha, for not addressing these concerns.

Joining the press briefing, Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam lambasted the state’s BJP government for its failure to implement the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), thereby denying tribal communities their rightful autonomy and resources.

The ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ campaign, party leaders said, aims to mobilize public opinion against what they see as increasing threats to constitutional values under the current central leadership and to advocate for inclusive, equitable governance.

The Congress has called upon citizens across Odisha to actively participate and support the campaign in defense of democratic principles and social justice.